Obituary of Doreen Kay Prunier

Doreen Kay Prunier, 63, of Elmira, NY, passed away on the afternoon of Monday, April 28, 2025.

She was born in Pontiac, Michigan, to her loving parents Barbara Irene Parks and Patrick Keith Parks.

Surviving are her two children, Joseph P. (or, as she called him, Joey) and Hannah Prunier of Elmira, NY, as well as her siblings Michele (Gregg) Fowler of Climax, NC, Mark Parks of Port Huron, MI, Colleen (James) Nicholson of Colorado Springs, CO, and Kelly (Nick) Bontrager of Attica, MI. She is also survived by her children’s father, Joseph G. Prunier of Bath, NY, as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

Doreen truly embodied the title “Mom.” Her greatest joy in life came from being a mother to Joey and Hannah; but her love didn’t stop there. She welcomed all of Joey’s and Hannah’s friends as if they were her own, creating a home that was warm, safe, and full of laughter. From ordering pizzas during sleepovers to setting up bonfires in the backyard on weekends, she went out of her way to make every moment special. Even now, in her absence, the love she gave continues to live on in the hearts of those she touched. One of her proudest memories was when her son, Joey, got engaged to his long-time girlfriend, Halle FitzGerald. Here, she gained a “bonus daughter” and couldn’t have been happier.

Beyond being a devoted mother, Doreen was the embodiment of hard work, love, and selflessness in everything she did. She spent many years working in the Oil and Gas Industry, where she was consistently praised for her exceptional work ethic and professionalism. While she took pride in her job, her true motivation was always her children. Every long, stressful day was endured with one goal in mind — to give Joey and Hannah the best life possible. When Hannah was just seven years old, she discovered a love for horseback riding. Doreen embraced that passion wholeheartedly, spending countless hours with her at the barn. Recognizing how much it meant to her daughter, Doreen surprised Hannah with her first pony, “Sassy,” on Christmas morning in 2008 — a perfect example of the lengths she would go to bring joy to her children’s lives.

Doreen was also Joey and Hannah’s loudest cheerleader and most devoted supporter. Whether it was spending entire weekends at horse shows with Hannah or attending Joey’s endless baseball, basketball, and football games, she was always there — without exception. One moment that perfectly captured her pride as a mother came during Joey’s white coat ceremony in medical school. Guests were kindly asked to hold applause until the end. Most obliged. But not Doreen. As “Joseph Prunier” was called and he walked across the stage, Doreen couldn’t contain herself — leaping to her feet and shouting through the auditorium, “That’s my Joey!” It was a moment that was unapologetically her — proud, passionate, and overflowing with love.

Family and friends are invited to McInerny Funeral Home, 502 W. Water Street, Elmira, NY, on Friday, May 9, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A funeral service will follow at 6:15 p.m.  A livestream of the service will be on YouTube, please subscribe to McInerny Funeral Home. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Doreen’s GoFundMe to assist with covering funeral expenses, medical bills, and legal fees. Contributions can be made at https://gofund.me/3e5d8bd6. Your support during this difficult time means more than words can express.